SURVEY

Q1:Have you ever watched German films before?

SURVEY

Q2:Have you ever watched Chinese films before?

Yes No0

5

10

15

20

25

Survey results

Have you ever watched German films?

Have you ever watched Chinese Films?

POLS 3620 presentationHo Shuk Kwan, Shirley (11015063)Peng Yumeng, Rainie (12502928)

Film issues in Germany and China

Part 1Themes and Purposes

Period Main theme Major Purpose

Before World War II Past German historyExpressionism(Modernization)Individuals’ psyche;

Promoted country or government image

During World War II Nazi Party Propaganda values

Post-war (New German Cinema)

Political Critical of Germany’s Nazi + wartime

To reflect history and educate people

After the unification of Germany-now

More diverseSelf-reflection towards the life, society

Emotional, social retrospectionPromote own culture

Germany

HO Shuk Kwan

China

Period Main theme Purpose Early phase (until PRC founded)

Revolutionary cause Inculcate a political consciousness;

Propaganda values

Before Cultural Revolution

Indigenous Chinese traditions Combine entertainment and ideological education

Open and Reform period

Cultural critique and exhibition Filmmakers aimed to reflect and educate but were handicapped by government’s control somehow

After entering the WTO

More diverse (Major theme; martial-arts(Kung Fu); social life; history ect.)

National image; Commercialize; Artistic achievement

PENG Yumeng

Similarity + Difference

Common: Entertainment values Commercial values Cultural products

HO Shuk Kwan, PENG Yumeng

Difference: Germany: Reflections towards the history China : Document /present the situation Allows more political criticism Germany than in

China

Part 2Challenge & Opportunity

1. Hollywood films dominated

CURRENT CHALLENGE ---GERMANY

HO Shuk Kwan

BOX OFFICE (IN $US) in China ( 2008-2010)2008 2009 2010

Total 640,000,000 909,220,000 1,540,000,000Chinese productions and co-productions 380,000,000 513,910,000 531,430,000

German 100% or majority co-prods 2,518,022 n/a 3,190,000*

German 100% or majority co-prods as % 0.39 n/a 0.02*

German minority co-prods 5,513878 11,952,416 22,840,678

German minority co-prods as % 0.86 1.31 0.15

*Estimate

Market Studies by German Films ( 2012)

Ho Shuk Kwan

2. Small-scale film production > large-scale production

3.Overuse of specific film topic

CURRENT CHALLENGE---GERMANY

HO Shuk Kwan

CHINA

2nd

4%

1/3

25.9%

PENG Yumeng

largest economy

of market share in the global cultural market

of foreign audiences “don’t know Chinese films at all”of foreign audiences choose Chinese films as a major way to get to know Chinese culture.

(1) Cultural discountA huge gap between Chinese and western cultures→ 寻寻觅觅，冷冷清清，凄凄惨惨戚戚（ sadness）→cultural discount→appreciating discount

CURRENT CHALLENGE---CHINA

PENG Yumeng

(2)Chinese elements=Chinese Kung Fu ? • “Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon” “Hero” • Only impression: Chinese Kung Fu• Jackie Chan, Bruce Lee, Jet Lee

CURRENT CHALLENGE---CHINA

PENG Yumeng

→Stereotype

(3)Chinese elements + Hollywood special effects

• Growing tendency: Co-produced films. • A more embarrassed fact: Chinese elements + Hollywood special effects =Hollywood films Eg: Kung Fu Panda

PENG Yumeng

CURRENT CHALLENGE---CHINA

Germany Berlin international Film festival

Opportunity--Film Festival

ChinaShanghai International Festival

HO Shuk Kwan

Hell

14 films entered the Shanghai International Film Festival

Stopped on Track Sleeping Sickness

HO Shuk Kwan

Soft power matters!